I'm not going to say anything else but... ENJOY!

*Disclaimer! I don't own NARUTO. HINATA does xD (I mean to say, Kishimoto-sensei does!)

CHAPTER 6

The sun was nearly at its rising point when the three entered the inner borders of Konoha. They were running full speed through what they thought as a chilly morning, or was it just the wind that they were running with? Although they thought it was cold they wasted no time, they didn't even bother to put something over their usual jounin outfits. The path almost automatically arched into Konoha's gates and there were unexpectedly two particular figures that seemed to be waiting for them. They slowed down as they approached the village and slowly caught their breaths at the same time. Surprisingly it was just Izumo and Kotetsu who are waiting for them at the main gate.

"Wow. You three really made it!" Izumo told them.

"So are we gonna meet Hokage-sama right away?" Shikamaru asked as he knew that these two were at the top of the Hokage's list of errand boys at the village.

"Nah, actually, he gave you some time off. He said he'd meet you by lunch time and just take the morning to rest" Kotetsu said.

"Ah is that so? Well, I guess he's gonna give us a hard time if he wants us to get all the rest we need" Naruto said with a sigh.

"Just be grateful that we still get to rest even for a few hours" the Uchiha scolded him with the same and cold inferior tone of his.

"Well, our job is done here. We'll see you at the meeting later. Ja" the two said as the vanished.

"And we'd best get that rest you were just talking about" the shadow user said, scratching the back of his head as he started to head out.

"Ja ne" Naruto said as Sasuke turned even without saying anything. Even if the outside world was starting to tear up again the mornings in Konoha stayed the same. Same old warm rays of the sun, same old silence and peace and during this time of the day Naruto would usually doze off. He would usually end up somewhere his feet would unconsciously take him to. He walked around the village with his hands in tucked in his pockets and it seemed weird that he ended up at the stairway heading towards the rock faces of the Hokages. 'Might as well go up' he smiled as he went up, up to the top of his father's head. The view of the village somewhat relaxed him and somehow he felt sat with his legs crossed as a smile appeared on his face.

"Ne, Otousan, the shinobi world has started to shatter again," he said as his smile vanished from his lips, "I wonder if the peace in the village would stay the same" and as if on cue, the leaves rustled as a wind shot through the village.

'You needn't worry. I believe in you' for a moment, a shocked expression crossed Naruto's face but then he smiled as he remembered. This was his father's words.

"'I believe in you' huh? Just you watch I won't let your expectations go to waste dattebayo!" he said as he stood up and stooped down the monument. 'Ja ne,Otousan' he whispered under his breath. Surely, he knew where to go next. His feet took him to a familiar street, back to where he left two days ago. Automatically, his pace began to speed up and it eventually led him to the Hyuga compound. He took a deep breath and supressed the excitement that was eating his patience like a hungry lion. Opening the sliding wooden doors, he silently removed his sandals and green jounin vest revealing a full Konoha uniform before he hurried on.

"Ojama shimasu" he said as he went through the hallway. It was silent and a bit dim as the sun hadn't risen up just yet. And as sudden as he came to the part of the hallway that revealed the gardens, he saw Hinata sitting and humming a sweet tune as her hand rested on her abdomen as she wore a light purple kimono which was tied loosely around her waist as she overlooked the garden. She stopped humming as the undeniable spark of worry left her as a gleam appeared in her eyes.

"Naruto-kun, okaeri!" Hinata said happily, maybe if she wasn't pregnant she would've ran to him like a child longing for her father. Without saying a word, a smile just shot through Naruto's face as he began to walk towards her. He reached her soon enough and sat beside her.

"Ah, tadaima. Missed me?" he said, his tone is a teasing one as he wraped an arm around her and giving her a gentle kiss at the forehead.

"Mhmm. How about you? Did you miss Daddy?" Hinata remarked, stroking her belly.

"Of course you did, didn't you?" Naruto said in a cooing tone as he baby-talked and that made Hinata giggle.

"Ah! Okaeri oniisama!" Hanabi exclaimed as he stumbled upon where they were.

"Os! Y'know, you don't have to address me formaly. Oniisan would be enough" he said as Hanabi nodded with a gentle smile decorating her face.

"Gomen, oniisan. Ja ne oneechan, oniisan, we've been assigned for minor border duty today so I gotta go!" she said as she ran pass them, waving a hand.

"Take care!" Hinata told her as they heard the door slid open and close.

"Ahh, I'm so glad that we arrived early," Naruto said as he laid back, his hands thrown on the wooden floor as to support his inclined body. "Or else, I won't be able spend this time with you even just a moment before a mission. A man needs needs time to have his wife for himself dattebayo"

'He rarely talks like this' Hinata thought as she gently cupped his cheek.

"I know. Maybe you ought to rest. I've heard that Hokage-sama wants to meet you as soon as possible, and I'm surprised that he still gave you a 'time' off" she said, running circles on his cheek with her thumb.

"Well, I'm guessing thatshe wants her top shinobis at top condition" he said with a grin as if he wasn't tired at running for hours.

"Then you must rest. I'll show you to my room" Hinata said as she slowly stood up, slightly being supported by Naruto.

"Hai hai" he remarked with a big yawn. 'Looks like the trip back home have taken its toll' Hinata thought as they started walking.

Meanwhile at the Uchiha compound, Sasuke had already fallen asleep in the living room when Sakura went down from their room. She also saw Ichirou lying on his back as Sasuke lay on his stomach. She couldn't help but smile at the moment; they look like a pile of sleepyheads on the floor. 'He must've been so careful not to awake me. Ichirou had found him out though' she thought as she silently went by their side and both gave them a soft kiss. 'I couldn't get used to these two. They're full of surprising sweetness' and blushed at the thought of her Sasuke-kun being cute. Disregarding the sudden flush on her face, she silently made her way to the kitchen and began to prepare their breakfast. She was already cooking the pancakes and was settling the last one when a half-awake Ichirou made his way through the kitchen, rubbing his eyes.

"Oka...san?" he uttered sheepishly as Sakura who was unknowing, was surprised at boy's sudden appearance.

"Ichirou? Good morning sweetheart, how long have you been there?" she said as she prepared the last of the pancakes.

"Eh? Oneesan?," he looked surprised as Sakura were, "Ah, I'm sorry! Looks like I'm still half asleep ahehehe" he said with a fake laugh as he scratched the back of his head. Sakura smiled at the boy before she moved and kneeled infront of the miniature Itachi.

"Ichi-kun," she said with such gentleness it reminded Ichirou of his late mother, "It's okay to call me Okasan, okay?" Sakura said. Ichirou's eyes gleamed with happiness as he nodded happily.

"Is your Otousan still lying there? What time did he come home?"

"Uhmm, I think by 6 he was already there sleeping and I slept with him since–"

"Ohayou..." Sasuke's voice rang through the kitchen

"Ohayou Otosan!," Ichirou greeted him, "Okaeri"

"Ohayou Sasuke. Breakfast's ready" Sakura told him as she went by his side, looking at his black onyx orbs as she went close to him just enough to kiss him. She could still see his exhaustion yet in some way he kept it aside.

"What time did you arrive? Hope you're still in for breakfast" she teased.

"We've arrived by 5 I think. I've slept by the living room since I don't want to disturb either of you. Although my back feels like someone slept on them" he remarked stretching his back. Ichirou giggled at his Dad and Sakura just noticed that he didn't even bother to change from his jounin uniform.

"And change out of your uniform please? And take your time to rest. I know that Lord Sixth might call you anytime, so I'll take care of things okay?" she said as they took their seats.

"Ah. I know" he said as he tasted her cooking. 'Cherries' he thought as he spreaded the syrup over his pancakes. Not even noticing that a smile has appeared on his usual cold face.

'I sense nothing. Not yet at least' Kakashi thought as he had an overview of the village at the rooftop of the Hokage mansion. The morning chills gave him shivers but still he remained composed. It has been going around the past few days. He was too tired of handling things without a help from the young and new jounins of Konoha who was currently investigating the Cold Siege up north. 'No one is getting any younger, I guess,' he admitted, looking at the rock faces of the past Hokages, 'maybe it's high time for me to pass the hat' he thought but the most likely candidate is still, well, far from being the Hokage figure but it didn't change the fact that he had grown mature. Also, the village regarded him with great respect and calls him not only as Konoha's hero but the hero that saved the entire shinobi from the recent war.

"Hokage-sama," a familiar voice regarded him with firm respect, "looks like the shinobis up north had discovered new info today"

"What is it now Yamato?" the Lord Hokage said as he turned to him.

"The shinobis from the different villages found a way to get in through the Frost's inner borders and found out that the man named Kaede, was found dead this morning"

"What?!" his voice was rattled.

"When they got to the village, the villagers told them that, that night two personas in robes came to their village. They were also surprised as to how the two entered the village as Kaede and his underlings had made a barrier to take them hostage," Yamato paused as an irritated look surfaced on the Hokage's face, "they think of them as 'heroes'. That's the part that I'm worried about. We've been in bad terms with people who wear robes ever since. Even the other villages think so"

'Tch. They've began to move.' Kakashi thought as his hands formed fists.

"Send orders to pull out every Leaf shinobi from the Frost. We'd best get ready and with the concept of robes in this case, I'm afraid that something is stirring up" he remarked.

"Hai, Hokage-sama" Yamato said before he disappeared.

'What are they up to now?' he whispered as he was left to his thoughts.

The day progressed and afternoon came. It was dyed in a shade of dull grey. It was sort of cold and there's a possibility of rain. The low lying clouds and the chilly breeze that morning suggested it all. Less people were on the streets as Hinata sat near the balcony of her bedroom at the Hyuga compound. It's been a few hours since Naruto slept and she was keeping an eye on the exhausted blonde who laid sound asleep in the futon. She had eaten her share of lunch and had Naruto's prepared for so that he could have something to eat when he wakes up. The white curtains that hung over the balcony's wooden doors fluttered gently in response to the breeze. Hinata felt herself shiver even in the formal silk kimono that she usually felt warm in. Water made soft ticking sounds on the roof. One, then another and the next thing she knew it was already raining. She had just finished sliding the doors closed when she felt a gentle movement inside her.

"N-Naruto-kun!," she exclaimed over the excitement, "Naruto-kun!" He opened his eyes slowly fluttering his eyelids open revealing his cerulean blue eyes which are still dazed from being woken up.

"What is it Hina-chaa–" he asked not finishing her name as a yawn interrupted him as he sat up. She didn't have the time to explain to him and just held his hand to her abdomen. They felt the first tiny kicks of their little one.

"There, did you feel it?" Hinata said as her eyes gleamed with affection. Her usual plain white eyes looked somewhat different as they spelled happiness.

"Uh-huh" Naruto remarked with a nod. A slight flush of red appeared to his face. 'So this is how it feels to be a Dad' he thought as how the little one had such a great effect to the both of them.

"Hello there. Aren't you active today?," he said, still rubbing the part where they felt the movement, "Ne, Hina-chan, does that... hurt?" Naruto asked with both curiosity and worry.

"Not really. It's the first time I felt it move and it's gentle. Although, Tema-chan said that the kicks 'could' get stronger and it might hurt" Hinata explained.

"I see... And I hear it's... Well... Y'know, it's painful when you give birth?" he said. Guilt was obvious in the way he said it. He never wanted to hurt her but there's the fact that it will hurt during delivery.

"I'll be fine. Don't worry too much Naruto-kun. I need to be strong and as long as I have you by my side I'm sure I can do it" she said with a smile that just wanted Naruto to kiss her. Soon enough, his lips crashed to hers and his hands tangled on her long purple locks. Her hands were on his cheeks, caressing his whisker marks making him dig into her lips a little harder. His kisses, they're desperate, like he can't get enough of her. The rain made it more dramatic as he left her breathless.

"Wait, its raining?" he inquired as he looked out the balcony. It looks like was also taken aback by what he just did. Such sudden and desperate kisses yet full of desire.

"Uhmm, yes... It started just before you woke up" Hinata said shyly, sensing his embarassed aura.

"Wonder if Tsunade-baachan would still summon us. Still, there's a possibility..." Naruto remarked as he laid back on the futon, hands on the back of his head.

"It's 3 in the afternoon. I thought she'd have you summoned by 1 or earlier" she wondered.

"3? It's 3 already?"

Knock knock!

"Yes? What is it?"

"Hinata-sama, I have something for Naruto-sama" a servant of the house said from the other side of the door. Hinata was about to get up from her position but Naruto told her not to as he stood up from the bed. Opening the wooden doors, a scroll was handed to him.

"Arigatou" he said as the servant formally bowed down before he took his leave and closing the door behind. Naruto was already reading it and then tossed it in one side of the room when he finished. A sulk was eminent on the looks of his as he sat down, legs curled up to his chest like a child having some tantrums.

"Is something wrong love?" Hinata remarked lovingly. She would usualy call him that to soothe and relax him even just a little.

"Kakashi-sensei won't be summoning us today…" Hinata tilted her head in curiosity as her brows furrowed. 'Shouldn't he be happy?' she thought.

"Also, it said that something bigger might be starting… 'Personas in robes' it said" he said as he bowed his head, hugging his knees closer, tighter and his hands clenched his pants. Of course, as all in Konoha knows, they've got nothing but trouble with those kinds of persons. Kami-sama knows how hard they got out of the last war and now another might be starting, again.

"Why? What happened at the Frost?" Hinata inquired with a worried tone.

"Well… The trouble-maker was found dead this morning. Those personas in robes killed them. That's what the villagers said. And so Kakashi-sensei had issued an order pulling out every Leaf shinobi at the Frost. Everyone's heading back by now and tomorrow starts another operation involving implementing high security around the village. Same goes to the other villages too. Well, I guess there's nothing I could complain about. I'm gonna be Hokage one day, so this shouldn't bother me…" he explained as he trailed off with a sigh.

"Even if you're going to be Hokage, Naruto-kun, you shouldn't be carrying everything by yourself. Just remember that I'm here too. I'll be your support, okay?" she said with her usual sweet smile. As his blue eyes peeked from his bowed position, he couldn't help but smile back at her. Sometimes he couldn't help but think about how she was when they we're genins or younger. Was she really that shy and retreated girl that doesn't know how to approach him or how will she react when he approaches her? Was he really the same girl that fought Pain to save him? She was, in a word, perfect for him. When she finally bloomed as a woman, she looked like a new person and yet she was still the same. And one fact stays the same in his heart: he loves her and she loves him. That alone can manage to keep him on his toes. No matter what comes in their way, not even those 'personas in robes' can penetrate them.

~End of Chapter 6~

YAY! Okay, I've finished this a few days ago but I barely had the time to upload. But! See I've updated! And I decided to thank these people for reviewing the last chapter:

Statchar, unknown90s –Thank you for reading! *heart eyes*

ProjXPsyClone – Surprised at what happened? :3

AnimeGal356 – Hope you enjoyed this chap too :D

And too Lord Niralath Lothiel – Don't worry, I have a plan for that :D *thumbs up*

VIRTUAL COOKIES TO DOES WHO REVIEW! *o*

*EDITED 11/9/14